The state of M&A: Are there more buyers or sellers?

The answer to this question can dramatically affect the level of M&A activity in the industry, according to expert David Lykken. So, what's the verdict?

By David Lykken
Special to MPA


When we discussed mergers and acquisitions last week on my Lykken on Lending radio show, I asked my business partner Chuck Klein the question that everyone thinking about M&A really wants to know. Right now, in today's market, are there more buyers or sellers? The answer to this question can dramatically affect the level of M&A activity in the industry. So, what's the verdict?

According to Chuck, we've more or less come out of a seller's market and the playing field has become a lot more level. A year or two ago, there were definitely a lot more buyers than sellers and sellers, therefore, had the upper hand. Today, however, expectations have become a lot more realistic and we're seeing more M&A activity as the proportion of buyers to sellers has begun to stabilize.

With the amount of buyers and sellers in the market being relatively equal now, it's a good time to start thinking about a potential merger or acquisition--regardless of what side of the coin you're on. Even if you have no intention on changing your business, it couldn't hurt to look. There are a lot of people discussing M&As right now, and you never know what synergies you might find.

A regular contributor on CNBC and Fox Business News, David also hosts a successful weekly radio program called “Lykken On Lending” that is heard each Monday at noon (Central Standard Time) by thousands of mortgage professional. Recently, he started producing a one-minute video called “Today’s Mortgage Minute” that appears on hundreds of television, radio and newspaper websites daily across the United States.